Governor of Nagano Prefecture

Abe, Shuichi

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all involved with this “Shinbism 3” exhibition, where contemporary artists selected by the Shinshu Museum Network exhibit their works.

“Shinbism” began as one of the Nagano Prefectural Artistic Supervisory Team’s projects and originated from ideas proposed by Mr. Kunio Motoe, the late Art Director of Nagano Prefecture, who unexpectedly passed away on the third of June this year. His thinking was that, “The best way to materialize networking among museums is to build up the impartial relationships among curators in Nagano Prefecture, which boasts the largest number of museums nationwide, many having only one curator.”

For the current exhibition, all the people involved, such as the curators of galleries and museums, and those from the Nagano Prefectural Agency for Cultural Promotion, within the prefecture, forming the firm foundation of the Shinshu Museum Network, have given their best to firmly realize this vision entrusted by Director Motoe.

At the last two “Shinbism” exhibitions, artworks by budding young artists of contemporary art connected to Nagano Prefecture, were selected and exhibited per recommendation by the curators from respective museums. However, at this third exhibition, the artists were selected under a new concept of shining a spotlight on those who are considered essential in the postwar contemporary art scene in Nagano Prefecture. This exhibition is being held at four different venues, divided respectively among the four blocks within the prefecture. Works of different artists are exhibited at each venue and programs such as gallery talks or symposiums are planned.

We hope you appreciate the excellent artworks created by the artists associated with Nagano Prefecture and, at the same time, we highly expect this exhibition to become a catalyst for further expansion of art and culture in the prefecture by providing you, the citizens and children of each region, places to learn and a prime opportunity to encounter those artists and curators.

The new era “Reiwa” has begun, which carries the connotation that culture is created among people who have come close together beautifully in their minds. I would like to conclude this message by conveying my wish for the materialization of a “Shinshu overflowing with creativity,” as would result from the enhancement of cultural energy by connecting the minds of artists and curators, including all our citizens, through further facilitation of networking among galleries and museums in the prefecture, with this opportunity of opening the first “Shinbism” exhibition in the Reiwa Era.